Three men from Northwest Ohio have been federally charged for offenses related to child sexual abuse materials following an investigation that resulted in the execution of 16 search warrants last week, according to an April 24 announcement. Four additional individuals were arrested and are being held on state charges.
The cases involve Gavin Jaffe, 27, of Millbury; Jared Mishka, 26, of Toledo; and Alexander Rojas, 38, of Toledo. Each was charged with receipt and distribution of child pornography. The charges are separate and not connected.
Court documents indicate that Jaffe allegedly used a social media platform to send and receive illegal materials and had previously been investigated locally for similar conduct. During a search at Mishka’s residence, agents reportedly found several thumb drives containing thousands of images and videos involving pre-pubescent children under the age of twelve. They also discovered a list with names and addresses near his home as well as girls’ socks. In Rojas’s case, investigators say he hid a cellphone during the search which was later found to contain multiple images involving infants; other items seized included child-like sex toys and children’s clothing.
“These arrests happen to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is recognized each April,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. “Together with the investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners, my office will aggressively prosecute those who take part in any type of these heinous crimes against children and hold them accountable for these despicable actions.” Toepfer also said he will highlight awareness about crimes against children through public service announcements on the office’s Facebook page in coming days.
Throughout the operation agents seized 128 digital items including computers and cellphones; thousands of illicit files were located on electronic devices according to investigators.
The FBI Toledo Resident Agency led this multi-agency effort along with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners from across northern Ohio.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio promotes community safety through outreach programs across its jurisdiction according to its official website. The office is responsible for enforcing federal criminal laws related to national security as well as public corruption while defending civil suits according to its official website. It covers forty counties in northern Ohio according to its official website with offices located in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown according to its official website.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
